Lock device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a lock assembly to be used in conjunction with two or more padlock assemblies. The lock assembly comprises a main body  1 , a main shackle  2 , and a locking portion  7 . When all subsidiary padlocks  5, 6  are locked into the apertures  3, 4  the main shackle  2  cannot be opened. The removal of either subsidiary shackle allows the locking portion  7  to circumvent the second subsidiary shackle and the main shackle  2  may be opened. This allows two persons to independently use the padlock without sharing keys or other secure information. Moreover the lock assembly may be used with any secure fitting designed for use with a traditional padlock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a lock device and particularly to a lockassembly to be used in conjunction with two or more padlock assemblies.

Padlock assemblies are in common use today and comprise a fasteningmember in the form of a shackle which is moveable relative to a mainbody between closed and open positions. A lock is mounted in the mainbody and can lock the shackle in the closed position. Such assembliesare widely used in a variety of applications to restrict theunauthorized relative movement of two or more members such as a hasp andstaple fitting, or hasp and padbar fitting. Such secure fittings for usewith padlock assemblies provide an aperture through which the padlockassembly's shackle can be passed. When the padlock shackle is passedthrough such an aperture, closed and locked, the unauthorized removal ofthe padlock assembly is relatively assured.

Situations can arise where it is desirable to use two or moreindependently operable padlocks so that the removal of only one padlockallows the operation or free movement of the secure fitting. Theadvantage of this is that two or more unauthorized users can operate thesecure fitting without sharing keys, codes or other such secure methodof lock operation. Conventional secure fittings are normally designed tobe used with a single padlock assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a lock devicecomprising a body member and a fastening member; the fastening memberbeing received in the body member and being moveable axially relative tothe body member between a first open position and a second closedposition, the fastening member having a locking formation adapted toengage one or more locking arms when received in the body member so thatwhen the fastening member is in the second closed position and the oreach locking arm is engaged with the fastening member, the fasteningmember cannot be moved into said first open position; and whereindisengaging one of the locking arms permits the fastening member to bemoved transaxially in order to move to the first open position.

Preferably there are two or more locking arms and disengaging one ofthem permits transaxial movement of the locking formation past theother.

In a first embodiment the locking arms can be padlock shackles or boltsextending through apertures through the device to which padlocks areattached thereby locking them to the device.

The transaxial movement may be rotation or simple movement in a straightline across the axis of movement of the fastening member between theopen and closed positions.

Optionally the lock device is a double padlock device or a triplepadlock device.

Optionally the body member contains two or three separate apertures, buta single slot for receiving two or more padlock shackles or bolts can beused. Alternatively up to three apertures may be provided.

Preferably the body member is a hollow casing.

Preferably the body member is manufactured from steel.

Preferably there are two additional apertures on the top side of thebody member and typically these receive the fastening member. Theapertures can typically be elongate so as to allow transaxial movementof the fastening member.

Preferably the fastening member is a shackle. Most preferably theshackle is U-shaped. Preferably the fastening member and the lockingformation are permitted to rotate with respect to one another to aidrelease of the fastening member. Typically the rotation means comprisesa circlip or a grub screw.

Preferably the locking formation has an elongate portion, and mostpreferably has a shoulder portion also. The shoulder portion typicallyextends laterally from the elongate portion, typically at the end. Theshoulder portion is typically engaged by one of the shackles. Typicallytwo apertures are provided side-by-side in the body member so thatshackles engaged therein pass on either side of the elongate portion andat least one passes over the shoulder portion, to retain the fasteningmember in the body member. The other of the shackles passing on theother side of the elongate portion prevents rotational (or othertransaxial) movement of the fastening member past the first shackle.Removal of the other (second) shackle permits rotation (or othertransaxial movement) of the shoulder past the first. Removal of thefirst shackle permits simple axial sliding movement of the fasteningmember from the body to open the device.

In an second embodiment locks may be contained within the body memberinstead of padlocks or bolts passing through apertures in the body.Optionally the lock device may contain 2 or 3 locks or more. Typicallythe locks are barrel locks. The locking arms typically comprise cams,normally positioned on the top of the locks.

Optionally the locks are disposed in separate sockets in the body.Normally the sockets are in the bottom of the body member.

Typically the locking arms (e.g. the cams) can move from a firstconfiguration to a second configuration. In the first configuration theshoulder portion is typically engaged by one of the cams. Typically thecams are positioned on either side of the elongate portion and at leastone passes over the shoulder portion, to retain the fastening member inthe body member. The other of the cams passing on the other side of theelongate portion prevents rotational (or other transaxial) movement ofthe fastening member past the first shackle. Rotation or sliding of theother (second) cam into the second configuration disengages the secondcam from the elongate portion and so permits rotation (or othertransaxial movement) of the shoulder past the first cam to open thedevice. Rotation or sliding of the first cam into the secondconfiguration disengages the shoulder portion and so permits simpleaxial sliding movement of the fastening member from the body to open thedevice.

In a further embodiment at least one locking arm may be a padlockshackle or bolt through the device to which a padlock is attachedthereby locking it to the device and at least one locking arm comprisesa cam.

Preferably the padlock shackle or bolt has the features described forthe first embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of a lock device according to the firstembodiment of the invention in a closed position with no padlockassemblies fitted;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the lock device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the lock device of FIGS. 1, 2 in anopen position;

FIG. 4 shows a front sectional view through the FIG. 1 device in aclosed position with two padlock assemblies fitted;

FIG. 5 shows a front sectional view through the FIG. 1 device in an openposition with the left hand padlock assembly removed;

FIG. 6 shows a front sectional view through the FIG. 1 device in an openposition with the right hand padlock assembly removed;

FIG. 7 shows a front sectional view through a lock device according to asecond embodiment in an open position with the uppermost padlockassembly removed;

FIG. 8 shows a front sectional view through the FIG. 7 device in aclosed position with padlock assemblies fitted;

FIG. 9 shows a front sectional view of a third embodiment of a lockingdevice in a closed position with two padlock assemblies fitted;

FIG. 10 shows a front sectional view of the third embodiment of thedevice in an open position with the left hand padlock assembly removed;

FIG. 11 shows a front sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a devicein a closed position; and

FIG. 12 shows a front sectional view of the fourth embodiment in an openposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a multiple padlock device comprises a mainbody 1, a fastening member in the form of main shackle 2 received in thebody 1 via two holes 9 on the upper surface of the main body 1, and alocking formation 7. The main body 1 is normally a hollow rectangularcasing containing two apertures 3, 4 on each main face 8. The apertures3, 4 are each designed to allow the shackle of a respective padlock 5, 6to pass through. The main body 1 may be made from steel or any othersuitably robust material, particularly metals. It can be manufactured bycast molding or from sheet metal, or by any other suitable method.

The main shackle 2 is normally U-shaped and can be made from steel orany other robust material, particularly metals. On the inner end of themain shackle 2 is a locking formation 7. The locking formation 7 andmain shackle 2 are normally manufactured together by cast molding or anyother suitable means, but may be made separately and joined togethere.g. by welding.

The main shackle 2 can move in the body 1 between a first open positionas shown in FIG. 3 or in a second closed position as shown in FIG. 1.

The locking formation 7 has an elongate portion 10 and a shoulder 11designed to loop around a shackle 5 of a first padlock as shown in FIG.4.

FIG. 4 shows the main shackle 2 in its closed position with first andsecond padlock shackles 5, 6 passing through each of the shackleapertures 3, 4. In this configuration the main shackle 2 cannot move tothe open position.

Movement of the main shackle 2 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 isresisted by the shoulder 11 abutting against the first shackle 5. Themain shackle 2 cannot rotate or move diagonally because the elongateportion 10 abuts against the second padlock shackle 6.

When the first padlock 5 is removed the shoulder 11 is no longerrestrained by it, and the main shackle 2 may move to the open positionsimply by sliding in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG. 5. Thismovement does not require unlocking of the second padlock 6 as there isno shoulder on the other side of the elongate portion 10 and the lockingformation 7 can simply move past the second padlock 6.

When the padlock 6 is removed the locking formation 7 is still retainedby the shoulder 10 abutting against the first shackle 5 but it canrotate or slide obliquely away in the direction of arrow B from theremaining padlock assembly shackle 5.

This allows the shoulder 11 to move past the shackle 5 and allows thesubsequent movement of the main shackle in the direction of arrow A asshown in FIG. 6.

Alternatively the shoulder 11 may abut against the second shackle 6 (notshown). The locking mechanism would function in the same way.

To allow the shackle to be inserted into the main body two apertures 9are present on the topside of the main body 1. These apertures aretypically large enough to allow the shackle to tilt as shown in FIG. 6when the second subsidiary shackle 6 is removed.

Two independent persons without sharing keys, codes or the like cantherefore operate the padlock fastening device.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 & 8.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that an extraaperture 12 is provided into which a third padlock shackle 13 may beinserted as shown in FIG. 8.

When all the subsidiary shackles 5, 6, 13 are in place and when the mainshackle 2 a is in its closed position the main shackle 2 a cannot bereleased.

Attempting to remove the main shackle 2 a in an upwardly verticaldirection is resisted by the shackle 5 abutting against the shoulder 11a as described above.

The main shackle 2 cannot slide obliquely to enable the shoulder 11 tobypass the shackle 5 because the locking formation 7 abuts against thesecond shackle 6 if the locking formation is moved to the right. Themain shackle 2 a itself abuts against the third shackle 13 if it ismoved to the left.

Thus with all padlock shackles 5, 6, 13 locked in their respectiveapertures the main shackle 2 a is secured.

The removal of either of the first or second shackles 5, 6 allows therelease of the main shackle 2 a as described above in relation to thefirst embodiment.

The removal of the third shackle 13 allows the release of the mainshackle 2 a by permitting the main shackle 2 a to move transaxially tothe left in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIG. 7. This permitsthe shorter shoulder 11 a to move between the shackles 5 and 6 as themain shackle 2 a is moved axially in the direction of arrow A.

Three independent persons without sharing keys, codes or the like cantherefore operate the lock device according to the second embodiment.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 & 10.

The third embodiment functions in the same manner as the firstembodiment except that the locking formation 7 and main shackle 2 c areattached together by a circlip (not shown) or grub screw 14 as shown inFIGS. 9-12. This allows rotation between the shackle 2 c and the lockingformation 7 c which eases the release of the shackle from the hasp orother fitting it secures.

A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11 & 12. The fourth embodiment issimilar to the third embodiment and so like parts will not be describedfurther. The aperture 3 present in other embodiments is not needed inthe fourth embodiment.

A barrel lock 17 is located in a socket 16 in the main body 1 through anaperture 18 in its bottom face 19. The barrel lock 17 is mounted in themain body 1 so that the bottom of the barrel lock 17 is exposed to theoutside of the device.

A keyhole 20 is provided at the exposed portion of the barrel lock 17.The barrel lock 17 has a lockable arm in the form of a cam 15 mounted onits upper end, movable between a locked position (shown in FIG. 11) andan unlocked position (shown in FIG. 12). The locking formation 7 dcomprises an elongate portion 10 d and a shoulder portion 11 d designedto loop around the cam 15 in its locked position. When the cam 15 is inthis locked position it abuts with the shoulder portion 11 d to resistaxial movement of the shackle as shown in FIG. 11. The elongate portion10 d of the locking formation 7 d abuts against the padlock bar 6 in theaperture 4 to resist transaxial movement of the locking formation 7 b ina similar manner to the first embodiment. Therefore the device islocked.

On turning the key in the direction of arrow D the arm rotates anddisengages the fastening member 11 b. The fastening member 11 b may thenbe withdrawn axially as shown in FIG. 12.

Instead of disengaging the cam 15 the padlock bar 6 may be removedinstead. Transaxial movement of the locking formation 7 d in thedirection of arrow D is then permitted allowing the shackle 2 d to bereleased in the same manner as that of the first embodiment.

Additional barrel locks can be used instead of the padbar 6 andapertures 4. For each barrel lock included an aperture in any suitableface, normally the bottom face, is provided for access to the keyhole.The apertures 6 and/or 12 are thus not required when a barrel lock isused instead of separate padlocks.

Certain embodiments of the invention allow two or more padlockassemblies to be used independently to lock a secure fitting designedfor use with only one padlock assembly, whereby the unlocking of anypadlock assembly enables the operation or free movement of the securefitting.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may be used for securefittings which are designed for traditional padlocks and is thereforeimmediately applicable to a variety of secure fittings. This eliminatesthe need to adapt secure fittings which would be inconvenient and incuradditional expenditure.

These and other modifications and improvements can be incorporatedwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lock device comprising a body member and afastening member; the fastening member being received in and retained bythe body member and being moveable axially relative to the body memberbetween a first open position and a second closed position, thefastening member being retained by the body member in both of the firstopen and second closed positions, the fastening member having a lockingformation adapted to engage at least one locking arm when received inthe body member so that when the fastening member is in the secondclosed position and at least one locking arm is engaged with thefastening member, the fastening member cannot be moved into said firstopen position and wherein disengaging one of the locking arms permitsthe fastening member to be moved transaxially in order to move to thefirst open position.
 2. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 whereinthere are at least two locking arms and disengaging one of them permitstransaxial movement of the locking formation past the other.
 3. The lockdevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transaxial movement includesrotation across the axis of movement of the fastening member between theopen and closed positions.
 4. The lock device as claimed in claim 1wherein the transaxial movement is in a straight line across the axis ofmovement of the fastening member between the open and closed positions.5. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body member ismanufactured from steel.
 6. The lock device as claimed in claim 1wherein the fastening member and the locking formation can rotate withrespect to each other.
 7. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 havingat least one aperture on the body member to receive the fasteningmember.
 8. The lock device according to claim 7, wherein the at leastone aperture in the body member permits tilting movement of thefastening member in the aperture.
 9. The lock device as claimed in claim1 wherein the fastening member is a shackle.
 10. The lock device asclaimed in claim 9 wherein the shackle is U-shaped.
 11. The lock deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking formation has an elongateportion.
 12. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lockingformation has a shoulder portion.
 13. The lock device as claimed inclaim 12 wherein the shoulder portion is engaged by one of the lockingarms.
 14. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one ofthe locking arms includes a padlock shackle.
 15. The lock device asclaimed in claim 14 wherein the lock device can receive 2 or 3 lockablebars.
 16. The lock device as claimed in claim 14 wherein two aperturesfor receiving lockable bars are provided side-by-side in the body memberso that first and second lockable bars engaged therein can pass oneither side of the elongate portion of the fastening member and at leastone lockable bar can pass over the shoulder portion, to restrain axialmovement of the fastening member in the body member by means of theshoulder abutting against the first lockable bar, and to restraintransaxial movement of the fastening member by means of the elongateportion abutting against at least one of the lockable bars.
 17. The lockdevice according to claim 16, having a third lockable bar received in athird aperture in the body, and engaging a portion of the fasteningmember to restrain transaxial movement of the fastening member.
 18. Thelock device according to claim 17, wherein the third lockable barrestrains transaxial movement in the opposite direction to thatrestrained by the first and second bars.
 19. The lock device as claimedin claim 1 wherein the body member contains 2 or 3 locks.
 20. The lockdevice as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least one of the locks includesa barrel lock.
 21. The lock device as claimed in claim 20 wherein atleast one of the locking arms includes a cam.
 22. The lock device asclaimed in claim 19 wherein the locking arms are positioned on eitherside of the elongate portion and at least one passes over the shoulderportion, to restrain the fastening member in the body member by means ofthe shoulder abutting against a first locking arm, and whereintransaxial movement of the fastening member is restrained by theelongate portion abutting against at least one of the locking arms. 23.The lock device according to claim 22, having a third locking armengaging a portion of the fastening member to restrain transaxialmovement of the fastening member.
 24. The lock device according to claim23, wherein the third locking arm restrains transaxial movement in theopposite direction to that restrained by the first and second lockingarms.
 25. The lock device as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least oneof the locks includes a padlock and at least one of the locking arms isthe hasp of a padlock.
 26. The lock device as claimed in claim 7,wherein a portion of the locking formation cannot pass through the atleast one aperture, thus retaining the fastening member in the bodymember in both the first open and second closed positions.